A hospital ward must accommodate 56 patients so that each gets 2.2 m^2 of floor area and 8.8 m^3 of air space. If the room length is fixed at 14 m, find the required breadth and height.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: 8.8 m, 4 m

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The ward must satisfy two constraints simultaneously: adequate floor area and adequate air volume. With a fixed length, we determine breadth from floor-area needs and then height from the volume requirement.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Patients = 56.
  • Per-patient floor area = 2.2 m^2.
  • Per-patient volume = 8.8 m^3.
  • Length L = 14 m.


Concept / Approach:

  • Total floor area A = 56 * 2.2.
  • Total volume V = 56 * 8.8.
  • Let breadth = B and height = H. Then A = L*B and V = L*B*H.


Step-by-Step Solution:

A_total = 56 * 2.2 = 123.2 m^2With L = 14, B = A_total / L = 123.2 / 14 = 8.8 mV_total = 56 * 8.8 = 492.8 m^3L*B*H = 14 * 8.8 * H = 492.8 ⇒ H = 492.8 / 123.2 = 4.0 m


Verification / Alternative check:
Check both constraints: floor area = 14*8.8 = 123.2 m^2 ✓; volume = 14*8.8*4 = 492.8 m^3 ✓. Both satisfied exactly.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • 8.4 m, 4.2 m and others: Either floor area or volume misses the requirements.
  • None of these: Not applicable since (8.8 m, 4 m) meets both constraints exactly.


Common Pitfalls:

  • Confusing per-patient values with totals.
  • Solving only the area constraint and forgetting to verify volume.


Final Answer:
8.8 m, 4 m

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